Voicemail, the automated answering service, can be a convenient way to receive messages when you’re unable to answer your phone. However, when you no longer need or want to use voicemail, it’s important to know how to turn it off. This can help you save money on your phone bill, prevent missed calls, and protect your privacy.
Turning off voicemail is a relatively simple process, but the steps may vary depending on your carrier and phone model. In general, you can turn off voicemail by dialing a specific code or accessing your voicemail settings in the phone’s menu. Once you’ve turned off voicemail, you’ll no longer receive voicemails, and callers will be directed straight to your voicemail inbox.
Deactivating Voicemail via Phone Settings
Disabling voicemail through your phone settings is a convenient and straightforward process for both Android and iOS users. Follow these detailed steps to turn off voicemail and enjoy a quieter communication experience:
Android Users
- Log in to your carrier’s website using your account credentials.
- Locate the “Voicemail” or “Messaging” section. The exact location may vary depending on your carrier.
- Look for an option labeled “Disable Voicemail” or “Turn Off Voicemail.”
- Click on the “Disable” button and follow any on-screen prompts.
- Confirm that voicemail has been disabled by checking your voicemail box or by calling your own phone number.
- Press “2” for “Turn voicemail on or off.”
- Press “2” again to turn voicemail off.
- Press “*” to confirm and return to the previous menu.
- Call your voicemail service.
- Enter your password when prompted.
- Listen to the voicemail menu options.
- Select the option to manage your voicemail box.
- Navigate to the “Greetings” or “Options” menu.
- Choose the option to record a new greeting.
- Dial your voicemail: Dial the voicemail number for your carrier. This number is typically *86 or *98.
- Enter your password: Once you’re connected to your voicemail, enter your password. If you’ve never set up a password, you’ll need to contact your carrier to get one.
- Follow the prompts: Once you’ve entered your password, you’ll hear a series of prompts. Follow the prompts to turn off your voicemail.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Voicemail tab.
- Tap the Settings icon.
- Tap the Turn Off Voicemail toggle.
- Open the Phone app.
- Tap the Menu button.
- Tap Settings.
- Tap Voicemail.
- Tap the Deactivate Voicemail toggle.
- Pick up the handset of your landline phone.
- Dial *99.
- Enter your password.
- Follow the prompts to turn off your voicemail.
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open your Phone app and tap the “Voicemail” tab. |
| 2 | Locate the “Settings” or “Voicemail Settings” option and tap on it. |
| 3 | Under the “General” or “Settings” section, find the “Voicemail Service” or “Voicemail Number” setting. |
| 4 | Toggle the switch or select the “Deactivate” or “Disable” option. |
iOS Users
For iOS users, the voicemail deactivation process is slightly different:
| Step | Instructions |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the Phone app and tap the “Voicemail” tab. |
| 2 | Tap on the “Greeting” tab and select the “Custom” greeting. |
| 3 | Record a new greeting that says “This mailbox is not in service. Please leave a message after the tone.” |
| 4 | Tap the “Done” button to save your new greeting. |
Disabling Voicemail through the Carrier’s Website
To disable voicemail through your carrier’s website, follow these steps:
If you encounter any difficulties while disabling voicemail through the carrier’s website, you can contact the customer service department for assistance.
Additional Tips
| Carrier | Website Link |
|---|---|
| AT&T | https://my.att.com/ |
| Verizon | https://www.verizon.com/my-verizon/ |
| T-Mobile | https://www.t-mobile.com/account/ |
| Sprint | https://www.sprint.com/en/support/support-center.html |
Please note that the specific steps and options may vary slightly depending on your carrier.
Turning Off Voicemail from the Dial Pad
To turn off voicemail from the dial pad, follow these steps:
1. Press the voicemail button
Usually represented by an envelope icon, a number 1, or a message icon.
2. Input your password
This is the password you set when you first activated voicemail.
3. Listen for the “Main Menu” options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Change voicemail password |
| 2 | Turn voicemail on or off |
| 3 | Set outgoing message |
| 4 | Record a personal greeting |
| 5 | Change language |
| 6 | Turn notification indicator on or off |
| * | Return to previous menu |
To turn off voicemail:
Configuring Custom Voicemail Greetings
Custom voicemail greetings allow you to personalize your voicemail messages and make them more professional or creative. Here’s how to configure custom voicemail greetings:
When recording your greeting, consider the following tips:
| Tip | Details |
|---|---|
| Keep it brief | Your greeting should be concise and clear, so that callers can easily understand what to do. |
| Use a professional tone | Even if your voicemail is personal, it’s best to use a professional tone that reflects well on you. |
| Include your name and contact information | This helps callers identify who they’ve reached and how to contact you. |
| Make it engaging | Don’t just say “Leave a message.” Instead, make your greeting more engaging by asking a question or offering a call to action. |
Once you’ve recorded your greeting, you can save it and it will be used to greet callers when they leave you a voicemail.
Procedure to Deactivate Voicemail
1. Dial your voicemail number.
2. Enter your PIN when prompted.
3. Follow the prompts to deactivate voicemail.
Troubleshooting Voicemail Deactivation Issues
1. Incorrect PIN
If you enter an incorrect PIN, you will not be able to deactivate voicemail. Make sure you are entering the correct PIN.
2. Voicemail is not active
If voicemail is not active on your account, you will not be able to deactivate it. Contact your service provider to activate voicemail before attempting to deactivate it.
3. Network issues
If you are experiencing network issues, you may not be able to deactivate voicemail. Try again later when the network is more stable.
4. Device issues
If you are using a device that is not compatible with voicemail deactivation, you will not be able to deactivate it. Contact your service provider for assistance.
5. Carrier restrictions
Some carriers may restrict voicemail deactivation. Contact your service provider to see if voicemail deactivation is available on your account.
6. Account issues
If you are experiencing account issues, you may not be able to deactivate voicemail. Contact your service provider for assistance.
7. Temporary deactivation
Some carriers may offer temporary voicemail deactivation. This feature allows you to deactivate voicemail for a specified period of time. Contact your service provider for more information about temporary voicemail deactivation.
8. Permanent deactivation
If you want to permanently deactivate voicemail, you will need to contact your service provider. They will be able to permanently remove voicemail from your account.
9. Additional Troubleshooting Tips for Network Issues
If you are experiencing network issues that are preventing you from deactivating voicemail, there are a few things you can try:
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable Airplane Mode | This will disconnect your device from the network and force it to reconnect. |
| Check for updates | Make sure your device’s software is up to date. |
| Reset your network settings | This will erase all of your network settings and restore them to their default values. |
| Contact your service provider | If you are still experiencing network issues, contact your service provider for assistance. |
How To Turn Off The Voicemail
**Note:** The steps for turning off voicemail may vary depending on your carrier. If you’re having trouble following the steps above, contact your carrier for help.
